3.29.2010

When The Tank came into our home, he possessed a noticeable speech delay. Contrasted with Zu's accelerated speaking abilities (both kids the same age) and Christians constant constant dialog, we almost didn't know how to handle a non-communicative toddler.

It's not that The Tank didn't talk - he did - it's just that he didn't speak English. Or Spanish. Or any other recognizable language. It sounded like an extra-salivated combination of gibberish, an Inuit dialect, and a primitive form of Swahili. Now that he's been in our home for a while, his conversations are becoming more coherent. Mostly because Bekah and I have learned a new language to better understand this kid.

Since this is a language known only to the three of us (and possibly to my mother-in-law), I propose for you a vocabulary lesson. Or quiz... or... whatever. I'll give you a dozen tankism and three possible English translations for each word or phrase. The answers will be posted sometime next week.

1. Guh pies!a) Good Pies!b) Surprise!c) Blue skies!

2. Gikah paka) Give it Backb) gigabytec) Other path

3. I dingya) My thingyb) I did itc) I'm thinking

4. Bankaleckalicka) Bang it like thisb) Blanketc) Bekah, I like it

5. Mlecka) Mineb) Movec) Milk

6. Belaya) Playb) Belowc) Bake

7. Lukta maya) Lucky dayb) Look at mec) Look, the mall

8. On do alaya) One, two, threeb) I put shoe awayc) What to do today?

9. Buttsa) Buttb) Bathc) Block

10. Any muh pana) Andy Kaufmanb) Any mud piec) I need my pants

11. I butt mightya) I go pottyb) My butt is mightyc) I brush my teeth

12. Teepee nom I kinga) I am the gnome kingb) The peas not eatingc) Of thee I sing

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About

nic is a geek dad, a professional nerd, a pop-culture junkie, a joyful noise kind of singer (with an emphasis on noise), a sloppy and undisciplined guitarist, and a funky white boy with no sense of rhythm. He is a former actor who still loves the theater, a former architecture student who still loves drafting and design, and a former graphic artist who has lost his touch. He has an artist's heart with very little artistic talent. He is a pessimistic optimist or an optimistic pessimist.

He spends Thursday nights watching movies with his kids and hangs out with his church's worship band on the weekends. His thoughts end up here.The Faithful Geek is nic's exploration of parenthood, corporate life, and the strange intersection where faith and pop culture meets.